Sustainable development

OpenAI prepares ad rollout inside free ChatGPT service

Advertising is set to be introduced within the free ChatGPT service, signalling a shift in how the platform will be monetised as its user base continues to expand rapidly. The move reflects OpenAI’s plans to turn widespread adoption into a sustainable revenue stream.

The company confirmed that ad testing will begin in the coming weeks, with sponsored content shown at the bottom of relevant ChatGPT responses. OpenAI said advertisements will be clearly labelled and separated from organic answers.

ChatGPT now serves more than 800 million users globally, most of whom currently access the service at no cost. Despite the high valuation, the company has continued to operate at a loss while expanding its infrastructure and AI capabilities.

Advertising represents OpenAI’s latest effort to diversify income beyond paid subscriptions and enterprise services. Sponsored recommendations will be shown only when products or services are deemed relevant to the user’s ongoing conversation.

The shift places OpenAI closer to traditional digital platform business models, raising broader questions about how commercial incentives may shape conversational AI systems as they become central gateways to online information.

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China’s AI battle heats up with Moonshot AI’s Kimi 2.5 upgrade

Moonshot AI has released an upgraded version of its Kimi model, intensifying competition among China’s leading AI developers. The launch comes ahead of an anticipated major release from rival DeepSeek.

The new model, K2.5, can process text, images, and video within a single prompt. Moonshot said the system improves performance across benchmarks and strengthens coding capabilities.

Several AI firms in China have rolled out upgrades in recent weeks. Companies including Alibaba, Zhipu, and MiniMax have introduced new models focused on reasoning, images, and robotics.

Investment has surged alongside the technology push. Moonshot recently raised $500 million, while rivals secured more than $1 billion through listings and funding rounds.

Analysts say the rapid pace highlights mounting pressure across the Chinese AI sector. Smaller developers are struggling to keep up with rising costs and the pace of innovation.

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Crypto payments edge closer to everyday retail

Cryptocurrency payments are entering mainstream US commerce as rising customer demand drives more merchants to accept digital assets at checkout.

New research from the National Cryptocurrency Association and PayPal shows that 39% of merchants already accept crypto, while 84% expect it to become a standard payment method within five years.

Customer demand is driving adoption, with 88% of merchants receiving crypto payment enquiries and 69% reporting monthly interest from customers.

Many businesses view crypto as a tool for expansion, with 79% believing it can help attract new customers, while those already accepting crypto report rising transaction volumes and stronger engagement.

Large enterprises lead adoption, with half of firms earning over $500 million accepting crypto, compared with about one-third of smaller businesses. Among adopters, crypto accounts for 26% of sales, while 72% report annual growth, underscoring its shift toward a practical payment method.

Younger consumers are driving much of the momentum, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, while sectors such as hospitality, travel, digital goods, gaming, and e-commerce are seeing the fastest uptake.

Despite strong interest, simplicity remains a key barrier, as 90% of merchants say they would adopt crypto if setup and usage matched the ease of traditional card payments.

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Facial recognition and AI power Android’s new theft protection upgrades

Android is rolling out expanded theft protection features aimed at reducing financial fraud and safeguarding personal data when smartphones are stolen, with new security controls now available across recent device versions.

The latest updates introduce stronger protections against unauthorised access, including tighter lockout rules after failed authentication attempts and broader biometric safeguards covering third-party apps such as banking services and password managers.

Recovery tools are also being enhanced, with remote locking now offering optional security challenges to ensure only verified owners can secure lost or stolen devices through web access.

For new Android devices activated in Brazil, AI-powered theft detection and remote locking are enabled by default, using on-device intelligence to identify snatch-and-run incidents and immediately lock the screen.

The expanded protections reflect a broader shift towards multi-layered mobile security, as device makers respond to rising phone theft linked to identity fraud, financial crime, and data exploitation.

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UNESCO ethics framework guides national AI roadmap in Lao PDR

Lao PDR has unveiled plans for a national AI strategy guided by UNESCO’s ethics framework to support responsible and inclusive digital development. The framework will inform policy design across governance, education, infrastructure, and economic transformation.

The assessment outlines Laos’ readiness to govern AI, noting progress in digital policy alongside gaps in access, skills, and research capacity. Officials stressed the need for homegrown AI solutions that respect culture, reduce inequality, and deliver broad social benefit.

UNESCO and the UN Country Team said the strategy aligns with Laos’ broader digital transformation goals under its 10th development plan. The initiative aims to improve coordination, increase R&D investment, and modernise education to support ethical AI deployment.

Lao PDR joins 77 countries worldwide using UNESCO’s tools to shape national AI policies, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable innovation, ethical governance, and inclusive growth as artificial intelligence becomes central to future development.

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India considers social media bans for children under 16

India is emerging as a potential test case for age-based social media restrictions as several states examine Australia-style bans on children’s access to platforms.

Goa and Andhra Pradesh are studying whether to prohibit social media use for those under 16, citing growing concerns over online safety and youth well-being. The debate has also reached the judiciary, with the Madras High Court urging the federal government to consider similar measures.

The proposals carry major implications for global technology companies, given that India’s internet population exceeds one billion users and continues to skew young.

Platforms such as Meta, Google and X rely heavily on India for long-term growth, advertising revenue and user expansion. Industry voices argue parental oversight is more effective than government bans, warning that restrictions could push minors towards unregulated digital spaces.

Australia’s under-16 ban, which entered force in late 2025, has already exposed enforcement difficulties, particularly around age verification and privacy risks. Determining users’ ages accurately remains challenging, while digital identity systems raise concerns about data security and surveillance.

Legal experts note that internet governance falls under India’s federal authority, limiting what individual states can enforce without central approval.

Although the data protection law of India includes safeguards for children, full implementation will extend through 2027, leaving policymakers to balance child protection, platform accountability and unintended consequences.

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Anthropic CEO warns of civilisation-level AI risk

Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei has issued a stark warning that superhuman AI could inflict civilisation-level damage unless governments and industry act far more quickly and seriously.

In a forthcoming essay, Amodei argues humanity is approaching a critical transition that will test whether political, social and technological systems are mature enough to handle unprecedented power.

Amodei believes AI systems will soon outperform humans across nearly every field, describing a future ‘country of geniuses in a data centre’ capable of autonomous and continuous creation.

He warns that such systems could rival nation-states in influence, accelerating economic disruption while placing extraordinary power in the hands of a small number of actors.

Among the gravest dangers, Amodei highlights mass displacement of white-collar jobs, rising biological security risks and the empowerment of authoritarian governments through advanced surveillance and control.

He also cautions that AI companies themselves pose systemic risks due to their control over frontier models, infrastructure and user attention at a global scale.

Despite the severity of his concerns, Amodei maintains cautious optimism, arguing that meaningful governance, transparency and public engagement could still steer AI development towards beneficial outcomes.

Without urgent action, however, he warns that financial incentives and political complacency may override restraint during the most consequential technological shift humanity has faced.

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EU and India deepen strategic partnership at the 16th New Delhi summit

The European Union and India have opened a new phase in their relationship at the 16th EU-India Summit in New Delhi, marked by the conclusion of a landmark Free Trade Agreement and the launch of a Security and Defence Partnership.

These agreements signal a shared ambition to deepen economic integration while strengthening cooperation in an increasingly volatile global environment.

The EU-India Free Trade Agreement ranks among the largest trade deals worldwide, significantly reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers and unlocking new opportunities for businesses of all sizes.

By improving market access and establishing clear and enforceable rules, the agreement supports more resilient supply chains, greater trade diversification and stronger joint economic security for both partners.

Alongside trade, leaders signed an EU-India Security and Defence Partnership covering maritime security, cyber and hybrid threats, counterterrorism, space and defence industrial cooperation.

Negotiations were also launched on a Security of Information Agreement, paving the way for India’s participation in EU security and defence initiatives.

The Summit further expanded cooperation on innovation, emerging technologies, climate action and people-to-people ties.

Initiatives include new EU-India Innovation Hubs, closer research collaboration, enhanced labour mobility frameworks and joint efforts on clean energy, connectivity and global development, reinforcing the partnership as a defining pillar of 21st-century geopolitics.

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Meteorological authorities in China embrace AI for next-gen climate risk prediction

At a national meteorological work conference, the China Meteorological Administration said it will pilot an ‘imminent warning’ system and apply AI technologies to enhance detailed forecasts for extreme weather, including typhoons and heavy rain.

The initiative is part of a broader effort in 2026 to build new meteorological service systems, such as for agriculture, and improve disaster preparedness and climate risk management across the country.

Officials highlighted progress over the past year, including improved flood-season forecasting and reduced typhoon track-prediction errors. Strengthened interagency coordination and the development of new prediction products aim to support earlier warnings and better resource allocation for extreme climate events.

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Australia’s green energy under pressure

The renewable energy sector in Australia encounters new challenges as major tech companies establish AI data centres across the country. Projects once planned to export solar power internationally are now influenced by domestic energy demands.

Sun Cable, supported by billionaires Mike Cannon-Brookes and Andrew Forrest, aimed to deliver Australian solar energy to Singapore via a 4,300-kilometre sea cable. The project symbolised a vision for Australia to become a leading exporter of renewable electricity.

The rapid expansion of AI facilities is shifting energy priorities towards domestic infrastructure. Tech companies’ demand for electricity is creating new competition with planned renewable export projects.

Energy policy decisions now carry broader implications for emissions, the national grid, and Australia’s role in the global clean energy market. Careful planning will be essential to balance domestic growth with long-term renewable ambitions.

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